Outside mirror treatment

[Rob M.]

My outside mirror has serious scratches but the reflecting mirror material hasn't been damaged. Since I believe this mirror is a '59 original (according to the Noland Adams restoration book) I wonder if the glass surface can be made flat again and if so how should I do this (concerning material and tools) ?

greetings,
Rob Musquetier
The Netherlands




The C1 1959 Corvette Restoration Project

[Rob M.]

Re: Outside mirror treatment

An ever better picture:




The C1 59 Restoration Project

[Dave Suesz]

I had my original replated...

Which meant replacing the glass. I had a round glass cut, a nice tight fit, a a local glass and window shop. Secured with silicone (original was crimped). Had to do it a couple years later, when the "ball" came loose. Have shown the car like this at least a dozen times, nobody ever noticed the replacement. Mirror looks perfect.

[Wayne K.]

Re: I had my original replated...

Rob,

I'd take Dave's advise and have it replaced. I"m curious if you know how it got like that. Almost looks like someone took a sanding disc to it.

Wayne

[Michael W.]

How it got that way.......

looks very similar to outside mirrors here in the frozen north where someone has taken a hard plastic ice scraper to the surface. Those patterns of four or five parallel lines ain't broach marks!

Is there a history of the car living in the snow belt at one time?

[Rob M.]

Re: How it got that way.......

Mike,

The Corvette has been with Pro-Team in the 1997 area. That's in Ohio but I don't know where the car resided before that time and in the 1998 - 2002 period.

I just wonder if its possible to scratch glass with a plastic scraper...

greetings,
Rob




The C1 1959 Corvette Restoration Project

[Michael W.]

If it's possible?

You bet it is! Too bad Village Photos shut down service for all us freeloaders, or I'd post a picture of a typical 'weapon' and the damage they can do.

[Chuck S.]

Re: How it got that way.......

Dang it, Mikey, yur dead on!

I kinda thought it looked like "Resto Bubba" had been skating around his garage floor on it. (Now that's an idea for someone wanting to "simulate real broach marks"...hitch up the old cylinder case to the pick'emup truck, tilt'er to the right, and roar up and down the trailer community a time or two...And watch out for them potholes, big rocks, and other roadway discontinuities.).